The Royal Commission held a public hearing in Sydney from Monday 23 February to Friday 6 March 2015 and on Tuesday 28 April 2015. Oral submissions were held on Monday 10 August 2015.

The public hearing inquired into the response of Knox Grammar School in Wahroonga, New South Wales and the Uniting Church in Australia between 1970 and 2012 to concerns raised about inappropriate conduct by a number of teachers towards students at Knox Grammar School.

The scope and purpose of the public hearing was to inquire into:

1. The experience of sexual abuse of former students of Knox Grammar School in Wahroonga, New South Wales.

2. The response of Knox Grammar School and the Uniting Church in Australia between 1970 and 2012 to concerns raised about inappropriate conduct by a number of teachers towards students of Knox Grammar School, including investigations and subsequent criminal proceedings.

3. The systems, policies and procedures in place at Knox Grammar School in relation to raising and responding to concerns about child sexual abuse since 1970.

4. The regulatory system governing the response of Knox Grammar School, as a non-government school in New South Wales, to allegations of child sexual abuse by its employees against students at the school.

5. Any other related matters.